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Cannabis News Roundup: holiday travel tips

By Pixabay user succo. Licensed under Creative Commons CC0/cropped.
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San Francisco dispensaries face protests ... Security breach at Eaze ... Nevada cannabis sales start Saturday ... Holiday travel tips ... Micro-dosing, and more.

[Click the blue hyperlink headline to read the full story.]

LEGISLATION & REGULATION

More study needed on Visitacion Valley dispensary // SFGate

“A San Francisco Planning Commission vote on a contentious medical marijuana dispensary proposed for Visitacion Valley was postponed Thursday to give the city more time to investigate whether a nearby community center qualifies as a ‘youth serving facility’ that would preclude the cannabis store from locating there.”

San Francisco’s Sunset District protests a proposed dispensary // KRON-TV

The demonstrators say they think a pot dispensary is a bad fit for the area, raising concerns about the smell of marijuana smoke and an increase in crime in the area.”

Cannabis Budget Trailer Bill Signed // CA Growers Assn.

“The Brown administration [of California] spearheaded the creation of a unified system of rules for adult use and medical that would avoid duplicative costs—while lawmakers ensured that regulations will protect the environment, public health and safety while enabling small businesses to remain competitive.”

Sonoma County accepting commercial and medical cannabis applications next week // North Bay Biz Jrln.

“Extra staffing is being put into place by Sonoma County as it prepares to accept permit applications on July 5 for commercial and medical cannabis businesses.

“A representative in the emerging industry states in the county's announcement that there are an estimated 7,000 cultivators in Sonoma County, many of whom have been here for over 20 years.”

Nevada cannabis sales start Saturday, with “emergency” changes // Reno Gazette-Jrln.

“On Monday, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval endorsed a Department of Taxation statement of emergency that will allow the department to more strictly regulate marijuana edible products starting the same day as the state's first recreational marijuana sales.”

Who can buy it? Any adult. “What you cannot do is take it across state lines.”

Arkansas starts medical marijuana program // US News

“State officials expect anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 people to seek permission to use the drug for a number of health problems. It will cost $50 to apply and permits must be renewed yearly.”

AAA fears “the increasing plague of drugged driving” // Leafly.com

“A 2013 study found that traffic fatalities dropped 8% to 11%, on average, in the year after states legalized medical marijuana,” but that doesn’t impress the Delaware office of AAA, where the resistance to legalization is strongest.  [Note: See related story in Cops & Courts and In Other News.]

COPS & COURTS

Ex-Berkeley cannabis commissioner guilty of money laundering // Berkeleyside

“Dan Rush, 56, who lived in Oakland but now lives in Crescent City, admitted in federal court that he had used his position as the organizing coordinator for the medical cannabis and hemp division of the United Food and Commercial Workers International (UFCW International) Local 5 to enrich himself, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office.”

FAQs on “drugged driving” and related questions // SacBee

How do police measure for “drugged driving? Will your insurance cover medical marijuana prescriptions? Find the answers here.

Traveling this holiday weekend with pot? Consider these rules of the road & air // L.A. Daily News

“As vacationers prepare to hit the road, many have a simple question: How can we legally mix travel and weed?”

BUSINESS

Security breach reported at delivery service Eaze // Tech Crunch

“An anonymous source tipped off Crunchbase News that Eaze, the Series B-stage cannabis delivery startup with over $24 million in venture funding, has experienced a security incident.”

Lettuce is Monterey County’s top crop; pot doesn’t make the list // Monterey County Weekly

“When Monterey County’s annual crop report for 2016 was released June 27, lettuce held the number-one spot for the highest-value crop. But another type of green—cannabis—was nowhere on the list of 26, although it’s having an impact on the local ag industry.”

HEALTH

One tool in battling the opioid crisis: Marijuana // Science Friday, NPR

“In a recent article, Scientific American reporter Dina Fine Maron wrote that studies suggest medical marijuana use actually lowers the rate of prescription opioid use, and therefore addiction.”

Find her comments, and those of a University of Georgia professor, by clicking the blue headline of this story.

What’s the origin of the fear of getting high? // GreenState

Many people, including the elderly, might benefit from medicinal marijuana, but shun it because they adamantly don’t want to “get high.” Why is that? [Note: See related story below.]

Introduction to micro-dosing // Green State

“Micro-dosing — taking small amounts of the main active, hallucinogenic ingredient in cannabis — is surging among U.S. consumers. The practice is in 2017, driven in large part by the rush of curious but inexperienced pot users entering the marketplace.”

IN OTHER NEWS....

Studies on stoned drivers differ by state // Reuters

“Two U.S. studies on the effects of marijuana on drivers in states where it is allowed for recreational use came to different conclusions about whether it increases risks behind the wheel.”

Burning Man participants can expect drug tests // CannabisNow

Burning Man, northern Nevada’s notoriously creative and freewheeling arts festival, will see more checks for controlled substances this year — especially for those operating motor vehicles.

Take a break — I am

This is the weekend when Americans celebrate their independence by blowing things up (AKA July 4th) and traveling. I’m going to be doing some of the latter, so it’s likely there will not be a CNR on July 7. Things should be back to normal on the 14th.

[New content is posted on Fridays.]